her last dying words

as she lay dying,

my aunt Delores,

famous for her Italian meals,

called me over to her bed.

candles

were lit,

statues of saints

had gathered on her nightstand.

the Priest was finished

with his job.

she was old.

very old, but able

to whisper

and with her finger curled

beckoned me

to her ear.

she told me what she had

to say,

then closed her eyes

and died.

i cried. the room cried.

then someone asked

me what she said.

I told them.

keep stirring

the red sauce, she whispered

to me with her last

dying breath.

use low heat

or else it will splatter

all over the walls and your

nice white shirt.

keep stirring

and when it comes to a boil,

then you add the meatballs.